As I was sitting in the bathtub reading Kink Magic: Sex Magic Beyond Vanilla by Taylor Ellwood and Lupa, my Priestess and polyamorous partner Estha (who didn't know I was reading it) came in the bathroom, mock-drowned me for a few minutes, and ordered me to cook breakfast--which I did in satisfactory servitude!
Kink Magic is a gorgeously-written and thoughtfully complete manual for the (relatively common but not commonly discussed) convergence of magical spirituality and the kink lifestyle. Insofar as kink, a wide array of pertinent material is clearly laid out, including BDSM, bondage, fetishism, sadomasochism, and gender-play. For anyone who is curious about either the kink or magical-spiritual lifestyle, this book is key.
Discussions of Gnosis and altered states of consciousness, as associated with kink and sexual magic, help tie the book's text together and encourage the reader to consider the spiritual benefits of alternative sexual/sensual practice. I also particularly appreciate discussions within the book involving health, safety, and realistic awareness in any given situation. Taylor and Lupa examine countless angles of kink culture; my knowledge of the subject has grown immensely after reading this.
I was especially glad to see the authors' insight that sex and kink are separate entities, though the two--one being sexual and one being sensual--often go together. The authors also examine psychological factors to do with magic and kink, which is an extremely important factor that many writers unfortunately overlook. Another strong point in the work are the various discussions and references to gender perception (both personal and cultural), gender identity, and transgenderism (both in the sense of fetishism and actual transsexual living).
Characteristic of the authors' works, Kink Magic includes plenty of personal anecdotes (many of which are, admirably, very personal!), with no text-fillers or empty ritual outlines. The material, par usual, has serious substance; it's down-to-earth, accessible, and brutally honest. It is clear that the authors choose to use their writing skills not for ego-wanking or money-making, but because they honestly and earnestly want to teach people accurate, progressive occult information.
--Raven Digitalis